ISRO’s PSLV-C43 successfully places HysIS, 30 foreign satellites in respective orbits
The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) workhorse, the PSLV, carrying 31 satellites, placed , Hyper Spectral Imaging Satellite (HysIS), dubbed ‘Sharp Eye’, in its intended orbit..
Prelims : Current events of national and international importance.
Mains : GS3-Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
This is the 13th flight of the core-alone version and 45th launch of the PSLV
Hyperspectral Imaging Satellite or HySIS
- Hyperspectral or hyspex imaging is said to be an Earth Observation trend that is being experimented globally.
- The HysIS is is an Earth observation satellite primarily to assist in a wide range of applications in agriculture, forestry, geological environments, coastal zones, among others.
- The 30 satellites are one each from Australia, Canada, Colombia, Finland, Malaysia, Netherlands and Spain, and 23 from the USA.
- Adding a new dimension to plain-vanilla optical imagers, it can be used for a range of activities from monitoring the environment, crops, looking for oil and minerals all the way up to military surveillance — all of which need images that show a high level of differentiation of the object or scene.
- About a decade ago, ISRO added another EO niche with microwave or radar imaging satellites RISAT-1 and 2 that could ‘see’ through clouds and the dark — an important feature useful for the military and security agencies.
- ‘Hyspex’ imaging is said to enable distinct identification of objects, materials or processes on Earth by reading the spectrum for each pixel of a scene from space.
- The heart of the system required for the HysIS satellite is basically an optical imaging detector chip. This chip has been indigenously designed by the Space Application Centre of the ISRO and fabricated at our semi-conductor lab at Chandigarh. The result was a detector array that could read 1000 x 66 pixels.
Prelims perspective
Model questions
Questions related to any ISRO mission can figure in the examination.
Mains Perspective
Model questions
Indian Space Research Organisation has carved a niche for itself in space communication projects and is playing a significant role in the development and progress of the nation. Elucidate with examples.
Reggae gets into heritage list
Topic : GS 2 Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Reggae music, secured a coveted spot on the United Nations’ list of global cultural treasures.
Highlights
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- UNESCO, added the genre that originated in Jamaica to its collection of “intangible cultural heritage” deemed worthy of protection and promotion.
- The genre was popularised by Artists like Bob Marley
Why?
- While reggae started out as “the voice of the marginalised” it was “now played and embraced by a wide cross-section of society
- Its “contribution to international discourse on issues of injustice, resistance, love and humanity underscores the dynamics of the element as being at once cerebral, socio-political, sensual and spiritual,” Paris-based UNESCO added in a statement.
Other cultural heritages
A centuries-old form of Georgian wrestling called chidaoba and the Irish sport of hurling also won recognition as cultural assets..
About UNESCO
- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) based in Paris.
- Its declared purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms in order to increase universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the United Nations Charter.
- UNESCO has 195 member states and nine associate members.
- UNESCO pursues its objectives through five major programs: education, natural sciences, social/human sciences, culture and communication/information
- It is headed by Irina Bokova (director General)
Sources: The Hindu Wikipedia – UNESCO UNESCO
Note ban, a massive and draconian monetary shock, writes former CEA.
Former Chief economic advisor Mr Aravind Subramanian in his book titled ‘Of Counsel: The Challenges of the Modi-Jaitley Economy described note ban a “massive, draconian, monetary shock,”.
Prelims: Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
Mains : GS 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
What ex-CEA says?
- It’s not convincing to argue that the poor were willing to ignore their own hardship during demonetisation, since the rich and the corrupt were undergoing greater hardship
- Increasing the hardship on the poor counter-intuitively has been the precise reason why the move yielded political benefits in the U.P. elections soon after.
Questions posed by the CEA
- Why was it so popular politically if it imposed such economic costs?
- Political Gain : The poor were willing to overlook their own hardship, knowing that the rich and their ill-begotten wealth were experiencing even greater hardship.
- Such a broad-based move was intended to serve as a signalling device to the corrupt rich that there was a ‘regime change against black money
- Why the removal of 86% of cash did not have a greater impact on economic growth?
- The measures of GDP failed to take into account the informal sector, which felt the brunt of the note ban.
- One possibility is that people found ways around the note ban, for example by continuing to use the ₹500 note even after its use had been formally banned, so the currency shock wasn’t actually as big as conventionally measured,
But,
Anti-elite populism could have taken the form of other punitive actions such as taxation, appropriation, and raids that were targeted at just the corrupt rich.
Mains Perspective
Model questions
Explain the challenges faced by India while moving towards a cashless society. Give your suggestions
Maharashtra Assembly approves 16% quota for Marathas
The Maharashtra Assembly passed a Bill proposing 16% reservation for Marathas in government jobs and education.
Prelims :Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
Mains : GS 2 Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Highlights
- With this, 85% of the State’s population will be entitled to constitutional benefits under Article 15(4), 16 (4) of the Constitution.
- The Bill urged that reservation be made available to only those persons found “below” the creamy layer.
- Members of both Houses, cutting across party lines, lauded the decision of the government.
Is there a problem?
- Yes, with the approval of the bill the reservation limit will go up from the current 52%to 68%, thus crossing the 50% ceiling set by Supreme Court.
Why?
- The decision is in line with the recommendations by the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC).
Draft bill – details
- Marathas constitutes 30% of state’s population.
- The presence of Marathas in position of academic excellence is “very marginal” – On an average 4.30% academic and teaching posts are occupied by persons of Maratha community
- Lack of conventional degree is keeping them in employments such as mathadis, hamals, dabbawallas, etc.
- Around 70% are residing in kuchha homes, only 35.39% o them have personal tap water, 31.79% rely on traditional sources of firewood.
- 2,152 Maratha farmers have committed suicide as against total suicides numbered 13,368 between 2013-18.
Current Affairs for all Exams 